TN to set up bio tech institute

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government will set up a National Institute of Bio-Technology (NIBT) and a National Institute of Plant Biology (NIPB) here during 2006-07, State Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S Arumugam said on Thursday.

Announcing new schemes for the current fiscal under the agriculture department, Arumugam said in the assembly that the state proposed to obtain grants from the Centre to the tune of Rs. 57.60 crore and Rs. 45.15 crore respectively for setting up of NIBT and NIPB.

"The institutes will conduct research in the area of cell biology and antibiotics, protect endangered species of plants, create a database of such species and explore ways to increase food production through this," Arumugam said.

He also announced setting up of a Agricultural Development Council to inspect the various issues in agriculture and submit recommendations to the government for finding solutions to them.

The Council will also decide remunerative prices for agricultural produce, he said.